Spare-tire case.



G. F. HOPEWELL.

SPARE TIRE CASE.

1,026, 31 6 Patented May 14, 1912.

CHARLES F. HOPEWELL, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPARE-TIRE case.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Application filed February 2, 1912. Serial No. 674,885.

To all whom it may concem Be it known that I, CHARLES F. Horn- WELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Newton, Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Spare-Tire Cases, of which the followingdescription, in connection with theaccompanying drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object t-he production of'a novel form oftire case for enveloping and protecting a spare tire, such as is used onautomobiles.

The object of the invention is to provide acase of this character whichshall be economical in its construction, which shall fit. snugly'against and cling to the tire so; as to prevent so far as possible theentrance of dust and moisture, and which shall present a pleasingexterior appearance.

The chief feature of the invention resides in the construction devisedfor one or both of the longitudinal sections of the tire case at itsedges whereby the desired fit and appearance of the tire case isobtained with a minimum amount of material.

The nature of the invention will more fully appear from the accompanyingdescription and drawings and will be particu larly pointed out in theclaims.

The drawings represent preferred forms of spare tire cases embodying theinvention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tire case inposition; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the tire case in the form whichit assumes when in position, with a tire shoe shown in outline; Fig. 2is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a plan viewof one end of the tire case; Fig. 4 isan inner face view of a portion ofthe tire case, showing the various sections which go to make up thecase, these sections being disconnected and arranged in their relativepositions adjacent the sections with which they are to be connected;Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, of a slightly different formembodying the invention; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a for tionof one of the exterior edge strips 0 the tire case.

A tire case of this type is made of suitable material, preferablywater-proof or water repellant, and is composed of several pieces unitedor stitched together to form an elongated strip of a shape adapted, whenits ends are brought to ether and. fastened, to embrace and wrap t eannular tire.

In the present construction the tire case com rises a bead strip 1consisting of a lon straight, parallel edged strip designed to t againstthe generally cylindrical bead surface of the tire. It also comprisesconcentric circular edged fiange strips united at their concave edges tothe edges of the bead strip. It is obviously impractical to out theseflange strips in continuous pieces, and hence they are usually formed insections, as shown at 2, these sections being stitched together at theiradjacent ends and then the concave edge of each strip stitched to theadjacent edge of the bead strip. These flange strips fit against andcoverthe side portions 0 the tire. The tire case also comprises treadsections at each edge of the. case. These sections fit against and coverthe tread portion'of the tire 'and the one section overlaps the other.The present invention has particularly to do with the construction ofthese tread sections and may be embodied. in either one or both of thetread sections. In Fig. 4 the invention is shown as a tire case in whichbut one tread section has the improved and novel construction, while inFig. 5 both tread sections have such construction. 7

Each tread section is stitched or united to the convex edge of theadjacent flange strip, and it covers the tread portion of the tire andextends down well over the side of the tire, so that it may fit againstthe side -portion and hold the case in place. That portion of the treadsection fitting against the tread should be substantially cylindricalwhen in position, and must therefore comprise a long, straight stripsimilar to the bead strip, and such for example as shown separately at 3in Fig. 4, and it must also comprise a portion circular in shape when inplace and having concentric circular edges similar to the flange strips,and when made separately this portion is shown in sections at 4 in Fig.4. But the making of the tread section in separate strips 3 and 4, onestraight and the other circular, involves a great deal of work and agreat Waste of material. In the present invention the tread section isformed of a single straight edged strip of the material, shown at theupper portion of Fig. 4, the upper and bottom portions of Fig. 5, and in'Fig. 6. Be-

tween the edges of this strip a folded line of demarcation is formed byfolding the mate rial and stitching it in its folded condition,

as shown at 5 in Fig. 6. This divides the tread section into twoportions, the portion 6 being adapted to fit against the tread and theportion 7 being adapted to fit against the side of the tire. To securethis circular construction of the portion '1 the free edge of the stripis puckered and secured in its puckered condition. This is accomplishedby hemming the free edge as shown at 8,

inserting, a puckering strip, as a tape 9, puckering the edge'untilthefree edge is of the required circumference to fit. snugly.

againstthe side of the tire, and then-pertnanently securing the pucker,as by sewing a line of stitching 10 through the materlal and through thepuckering tape 9. The fold 5 divides-the portions 6 and 7' of the treadsection so that there is presented in one integral piece of the materiala straight edged strip corresponding in eflect to the strip 3,

and a curved strip 7 corresponding in effeet to the strip 4:. Thisconstruction is preferably employed at both edges of the tire case, butthe advantagesof the invention will be better secured by employing it atone edge, as shown in Fig. 4.

i The tire case is provided at its ends with suitable means, such assnap fasteners 11, whereby itcan be adjusted to conform to tires ofdiflerent diameter.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is:

. 1. A sparetire case comprising a straight edged bead strip, concentriccircular edged flange strips united at their concave edges to the edgesof said head strip, tread sections united respectively to the concaveedges of said flange strips, one of said tread sections folded andfastened between its edges to present a line-ofdemarcation, and means tomaintain the free edge of said tread sectionpermanently puckered wherebythe outer portion of the tread section be tween the folded line ofdemarcation and the puckered edge will conform to the curved side of thetire when in place.

2. A spare tire case comprising a straightedged bead'strip, concentriccircular edged flange strips united at their concave edges to the edgesof said bead strip, tread sections united respectively to the concaveedges of said flange strips, one of said tread sections folded andfastened between its edges to present a line of demarcation, and havingits free edge hemmed, a cord of-substantially less length than" the saidedge located in said hem and permanently'secured at its ends whereby thesaid edge is held permanentlypuckered so that the outer portion of thetread section between the folded line of demarcation and the puckerededge and the puckered edges will conform to the curved sides of the tirewhen in place.

4. A, spare tire case comprising a straight edged bead strip, concentriccircular edged jflan'gestrips united at their concave edges to the edgesof' said-bead strip,- tread sections united respectively to the convexedges of said flange strips, each of said tr'ead sectionsfolded andfastened between the edges thereof to present a line of demarcation, and

having their free edges hemmed, cords of substantially less length thansaid edges located respectively'in said hems and permanently secured attheir ends whereby the said edges are held permanently puckered so thatthe outer portions of said tread sections between the folded lines ofdemarcation and the puckerededges will conform to the curved sides ofthe tire when in place'. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specification, in the presence 1 of two subscribing witnesses.

cnanans nnornwntn Witnesses: I

- Bessie G. Momma,

FREDERI K S. GREENLEAF.

